Author: Alyssa Yap

The liver is responsible for various important bodily functions. Liver function tests can help detect liver problems. Read on to know more

Medication use is associated with the risk for adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This article will focus on one of them.

IBS is a digestive system disorder that can inconvenience those with it. Read on for some tips to manage IBS while on the move!

Antibiotics can prevent and treat certain infections. Several types of antibiotics exist, find out more in this article.

Bad breath can affect anyone. It may be distressing to the individual who has it, and reduces their self-confidence. Find out more about its causes, and what can be done in this article! Introduction Bad breath, also known as ‘halitosis’ or ‘oral malodour’ affects about one-third of the population, regardless of their age and gender. It is a recurring and persistent unpleasant smell in a person’s breath, typically with an intensity beyond socially acceptable norms.  Most people probably have experienced bad breath from themselves or others at some point in their lives. At times, individuals are unaware of their own oral…

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is one of the most common and fatal malignancies globally. It occurs when cancerous cells start to develop in the stomach lining. Find out more about it below! Epidemiology The incidence of stomach cancer varies in different regions of the world, with the greatest occurrences in Central and East Asia. Mongolia, Japan, and South Korea are the countries known to have some of the highest prevalence within these regions.  Males are also about two times more likely to get stomach cancer compared to females. Development of Stomach Cancer The exact cause of the…

Helicobacter pylori cause one of the most common chronic infections in humans, affecting about 31% of Singaporeans. This article will highlight the 8 essentials of this gastrointestinal disease and infection that you should know, and find out why it is important to get it treated! 1. About the organism – Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori in short, is a bacterium that infects the stomach, often during childhood. It produces a substance that enables it to neutralise gastric acid and withstand the harsh acidic environment of the gut. The bacteria can also burrow into the less acidic mucous…

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction (MI), happens when oxygen supply to a part of the heart (cardiac) muscle is cut off, which causes cardiac cells in the area to die. Cardiac enzymes (or also known as cardiac biomarkers) are chemicals released into the bloodstream when the heart muscle is injured. During a heart attack, these cardiac enzymes are discharged into the bloodstream when the cardiac cells become damaged from the lack of oxygen. They can be measured simply by using blood tests.  Based on the concentrations of these substances detected in the blood, they may suggest…

As we progress into 2022, the world continues its battle against COVID-19, with yet another new strain – Omicron, that emerged towards the end of last year. At present, Singapore is in the midst of an Omicron wave with an average of about 11 000 cases per day. Despite the large numbers, due to the country’s high vaccination rate, majority of the infected individuals either displayed minor symptoms, or were asymptomatic. Only 1491 cases were hospitalized at the time of writing. Patients requiring ICU care or oxygen supplementation in the previous month were also low at 0.04% and 0.3% respectively,…

An endoscopy is a minimally invasive medical procedure, performed by specially trained doctors, to examine the insides and linings of the body’s organs.  Variations exist in the way an endoscopy is performed, depending on the organ being investigated, and the purpose of the procedure. Typically, it involves the insertion of an endoscope into the body. The site of insertion depends on the type of endoscopy being done. An endoscope is a long, slim, rigid or flexible, tube-like instrument with a light and small camera attached at one end. During an endoscopy, the doctor moves the scope through an organ cavity,…